What's in a Name?

What's in a name? Have you ever looked up the meaning of your name? If you're a parent, did you study name meanings when naming your child, or just pick a name that sounded nice?

In Biblical times, names carried huge significance. Often after an encounter with God, He would change your name to reflect it. When God came to Abram and made a covenant with him to make him the father of many nations through the birth of Isaac, he renamed him Abraham (the father of many) and renamed Abram's wife Sarai, Sarah (princess.)

When Jacob had a God encounter in Genesis 32, he was renamed Israel, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." (v. 28)

My name is Kelly. Kelly is a name of Gaelic origins, which means warrior, war or strife. Truly, my life has been filled with strife at times, and battles to be overcome. I recently read this verse in the Bible:

To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Revelations 2:17

This was written to the church of Pergamum in John's Revelation. But I can't help but wonder what new name I would receive. And the white stone, would it be like those "faith rocks" we see at the Christian stores? I have one, it's clear and smooth with a cross inside of it. It isn't a "good luck" charm or spiritual talisman, it's just a reminder to think about God. But I love the smooth feeling of the stone.

I imagine my own special white stone, smooth, my secret stone, with my new name on it. A name of peace and love. A special name given to me by my Savior, for overcoming. I don't know what that name will be or if I'll even get a stone. But it's something to consider.

I don't know if there's anything special about my name. But what I do know, is the Name above all Names. THAT is the name I'll focus on.

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11

Glory of Love, Peter Cetera

"I am a man who will fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of.
We'll live forever knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love."
Glory of Love, Peter Cetera, 1986

Young girls often dream of the same thing. Prince Charming, or their knight in shining armor, riding in on a white horse to save the day. A hero! Someone to love us and fight for us and save us. The thing, real life isn't a fairy tale. And those fairy tales fill us with unrealistic expectations of what a relationship is.

Psalm 146:3 says "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save you." We shouldn't be waiting for Prince Charming. He is a mere mortal man! He cannot save us. But there is a man who can, who will, and who did: Jesus.

Jesus came in all his glory, he came for the Glory of love! John 3:16 says, "for God so LOVED the world..." (emphasis mine). God loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin. To be our hero. He did it all for love!

Instead of Peter Cetera, it would make more sense for Jesus to be the one singing, "I am a man who will fight for your honor. I'll be the hero you're dreaming of. We'll live forever knowing together that we did it all for the glory of love." Jesus died for our honor, so that we could be found honorable, holy and blemish free in the sight of God, so that we could live forever, knowing together, that HE did it all for the glory of love.

Musical Musings:

1. Do you look for other people to "save" you, or do you look to the One who can & did save you?
2. Do unrealistic expectations in your earthly relationships cause conflict, that could be avoided by putting your faith in God, not mankind?
3. Jesus died for your honor. Be honorable for His name sake. Love one another as God loves us.

Karaoke:
Dear Lord, thank you for coming to earth and becoming a man. A man who would die for my honor, to create righteousness for me in place of my sin. You did it for love, just because you loved me. I didn't deserve it, and I still don't, but I thank and praise your glorious name that you are the hero I've been dreaming of. Thank you for the gift of eternal life. In Jesus name, amen.

Rock on:
Read John 13:31-34 to read about the glory of love.